Leading accommodation platform Airbnb will issue fire safety guidance to its hosts across the UK in a joint effort with the National Fire Chiefs Council.
Airbnb said the move marked a “step up to lead the industry on fire safety”.
The two-page fire-safety guide, produced in collaboration with the UK’s National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), comes after a parliamentary committee inquiry into accommodation platforms this week concluded: “Sharing economy companies are very poor at providing information [on] statutory responsibilities regarding health and safety.”
However, the guide will leave Airbnb no closer to meeting other recommendations in the report published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for leisure, tourism and hospitality.
Crucially, the MPs report notes: “Leading sharing economy platforms do not check if hosts are compliant with regulations such as gas and fire safety before allowing them to post a property on their site.”
The MPs refer specifically to Airbnb in their report, which focuses exclusively on accommodation platforms.
Natasha Mytton Mills, Airbnb UK public policy manager, said: “We’re committed to supporting safe hosting and are pleased to have teamed up with the UK’s leading experts to develop guidance for our community and lead our industry on this important issue.
“Whether it’s taking a minute to test your smoke alarms regularly, or having an escape plan for guests, we’re encouraging all our hosts to follow a few simple steps to make their home safer.”
Nick Coombe, vice chair of the NFCC protection committee, said: “The NFCC is delighted to see Airbnb is committed to carrying out a number of initiatives to promote home fire safety.
“Fire and rescue services are happy to provide support and advice. We are encouraging hosts to approach their local service for help to ensure homes are safe for families and their guests.”
Airbnb said the guide would “bring guidance up to date with current industry standards” and would be sent to more than 100,000 hosts across the UK.
The company’s most recently published figures suggest it has 168,000 UK-listed properties.
Airbnb added: “Unlike other platforms, Airbnb carries out a number of initiatives to promote home safety including giving away free smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to eligible hosts.”
However, the MPs’ report, ‘An Inquiry into the Sharing Economy’, notes of Airbnb’s checklists for hosts:
“These checklists do not include the most important measures that all providers of paid accommodation are required by law to undertake, such as completing a fire safety assessment of the property and having gas services check to ensure that the property is Gas Safe compliant.
“If hosts state in the checklist that they do not provide smoke alarms, CO2 monitors or fire safety equipment, the registration process still allows the host to list their property and start taking bookings. This is unacceptable.”